When to move the chicks to the coop.

[bow-chicka-bow-bow]

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie here who has never raised chickens on my own. My parents had some when I was growing up and it was my job to collect the eggs and feed them, but they were adult chickens and already established when I remember having them. Plus, we only had them a few years, so I don't have much experience. My husband has none, so that little that I had made me the "expert."

Anyway, my question is this: I have 8 chicks. 5 black star sex-linked and 3 Americaunas. The black star are about 5 weeks old now and the Americaunas are 3 weeks. They are all together in a home-made brooder which consists of a large plastic tote in my laundry room. I do have a heat lamp with a 60 watt bulb that I've started only turning on at night. THe temp in there is staying around 75 to 80 degrees. My husband is finishing the coop, which I'm calling the "coop de ville" or "chicken castle" the way he is building it. The walls are insulated and we could move in it, it is so sturdy. Anyway, long story even longer, at what age should I move them into the coop and what is the best method to introduce them to it?

A little more background, we are out in the country and the coop is 2 ft off the ground with a 14 ft. run with it. Being in North Carolina near Raleigh, the temp is staying in the mid 70's now and lows around the 60's at night. I don't want to totally freak them out and I'm not sure if I should put them in the coop in the morning and let them figure out how to get out the coop and into the run or bring them in at night or just what to do?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Amyh]

I am in North Carolina as well, about an hour West of you and I am planning to get three new chicks next Wednesday. They will be in the brooder coop outside from day one. I will not brood in the house ever again.

Your chicks will be fine! I'd put a heat lamp on them on cold nights like we had last night, but only for another week or so.

 

[Ridgerunner]

First, welcome to the forum!

Glad you joined us.

The chicks should be fully feathered out by the time they are 4 to 5 weeks old. At that time, you can stop all supplemental heat. I never keep heat on mine past 5 weeks and usually stop it around 4. Some of that depends on weather conditions. Even with yours acclimated as they are, I'd wait at least another week. And since you have them integrated, I would not split them up. Why risk it?

I'd suggest just turn them loose in the coop when you decide to take them out there. Do not let them in the run for at least a week. I'm sure the coop is a lot bigger than the brooder, so they will have plenty of room and will be real happy in there.

After they have gotten used to the coop as home, open the pop door and give them access to the run. Don't be surprised if they take a day or two to get the courage up to venture into that strange new place. You'll probably see them looking out the pop door but afraid to venture out. Don't worry. Eventually one will get the courage up to venture out, then the others will eventually follow. And don't be surprised it the first ones out stay right at the pop door and maybe go back in to safety real soon. They will work it out.

What should happen, once they do venture out, is that they will all go back inside the coop at bedtime. Sometimes they don't and you need to put them back inside a few times, but they should figure it out pretty quickly.

My brooder raised chicks usually do nto start to roost until they are 10 to 12 weeks old. Broody raised chicks will often start to roost a lot earlier. So expect yours to sleep piles on the floor for a while.

I'd keep all nest boxes closed off until they are about 16 weeks old. When they do start to roost, you want them to get used to roosting on the roosts, not in the nest boxes.

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck and again,

 

[juliette2009]

Quote:
Excellent advice!

 

[bow-chicka-bow-bow]

Thanks so much for the advice. I feel better now about what I need to do.

 

[7L Farm]

I've had my iddy's in their coop since they were one week old. I provided heat lamp till they were 4 weeks old. They seem to feather out faster when living in their natural environment. I feel they are healthier if you raise them in their natural environment. The iddy's will still huddle with each other at night but during the day they get more exercise & the air is moving around not stagnant if that makes sense.Mine have been roosting

since I removed the heat lamp.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yesterday, at 5 weeks, the little ones were taken to their grow out pen in the barn. They love it. Our temps are only in the 50's during the day, and still around 30 at night. Nice deep straw. They were more than fine, they are delighted with their place.